Showing Our Roots 2014

A Celebration of Our Roots

A special supplement to the

JULY 2014

• For the Skodas, agriculture

has been a way of life...........pg. 2

• Growing for the long haul:

Planting an orchard...........pg. 7

• Bridle Hill: Growing a crop of community...........pg. 11

SHOWING OUR ROOTS

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SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

JULY, 2014

For the Skodas, agriculture has been a way of life

T

wo veritable pillars of the Sullivan County community, Gerald and Rosemary Skoda, were recently recognized by the United Way with a champagne brunch at BHR (Bernie’s) in Rock Hill.

Family, friends and supporters packed the main dining room of the Rock Hill eatery to honor the “Gentleman Farmer” and his “Wild Irish Rose,” for “their rich history of service to the community...”

(See sidebar.)

Gerald “retired” 15 years ago, after

33 years as a specialist in business management, dairy, poultry, crop production and community development. He also served as executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) in Liberty, where the main building has been named in his honor.

Gerald and his wife of more than 50 years have busied themselves in the operation of their crop farm located on their Woodbourne homestead.

Skoda also runs an agricultural consultation and farm tax preparationbusiness, Skoda Enterprises, out of the couple’s home.

Gerald Skoda stands with a group of massive round hay bales on some of the land he rents on Rose Road in Woodbourne.

On a recent mid-June afternoon, Gerald Skoda took the Democrat on a tour of the family farm. The main homestead, purchased in 1971 “to raise our children,” is comprised of 40 acres of farmland owned by the Skodas, with another 300 rented.

One hundred of those acres are dedicated to the cultivation and harvesting of a premium hay product, which the Skodas sell on the market.

The couple runs the operation, which is located at the former Cypret homestead, along with hired help and

Gerald Skoda stands next to a large water tanker used to water his vegetable crops.

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neighbors Justin DeGraw, 21, and his younger brother Jacob, who ironically are descendants of the Cyprets.

“Justin came on about seven years ago and Jacob just a few years ago, but he says he wants to work until he’s done with school... so far so good,” said Skoda.

Of his practice of hiring young men to work his land, he joked, “I’ve always employed students... shoot, at one point when my son [Gerald Jr.] was here half the Tri-Valley football team would come here for exercise. I’ve had a good 20 or 30 young people come through this farm over the years.”

On that hot June afternoon, Skoda recalled the September day last year when the dairy barn across the road from the family home was struck by lightning and subsequently burned to the ground: “It was a 100 foot by 36 foot barn that held eight of our tractors, a large baler and several snowmobiles... most of our machinery. We lost it all,” he lamented, adding, “At my age, I should have put my feet up and my money in the bank. That’s no fun... so we recovered and decided to rebuild.”

But it was a decision the Skodas made four years ago that has had the

SHOWING OUR ROOTS

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Gerald Skoda stands in one of two large vegetable gardens on the family homestead. The gardens feature a wide variety of vegetables including beans, cucumbers, melon, squash, eggplant, sweet corn and much more. The Skodas began giving away the vast majority of the fresh produce they grow to local food pantries and shelters four years ago and today make up to three deliveries of fresh produce per week.

biggest impact on the community: the decision to expand their family vegetable garden – three-fold.

“I’d originally bought this as a place to raise my family,” reiterated Skoda.

“At that time we raised corn and dairy heifers... and we raised hay, and just

enough vegetables for the family’s consumption. We always kept a vegetable garden, since we moved here... it’s just good for your health.”

“But then Rosemary joined the United Way,” Skoda said. “Now I’d been aware of all the food pantries in

the area… I taught growing vegetables when I was at Cornell [Cooperative Extension], so I already knew how to do it. For the last four years we decided together to expand the CONTINUED ON PAGE 4R

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SHOWING OUR ROOTS FROM PAGE 3R

gardens so we can also supply the local food pantries and just do something that’s positive for the community.”

The Skodas ramped up their veg-

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

etable production and haven’t looked back since, making up to three vegetable drops per week between the Federation for the Homeless in Monticello on Mondays; the CACHE Office in Liberty on Wednesdays; and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in

Gerald Skoda takes a moment to speak with local businessman Greg Goldstein of the Misner Agency at BHR (Bernie’s) in Rock Hill.

JULY, 2014

South Fallsburg every other Friday.

The original, once smaller, family garden sits next to the home and features beans, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and sweet corn that Skoda promised “will be knee-high by July.”

Across the street lies an even larger plot where you’ll find everything from asparagus, lettuce, melons, squash, pumpkins, potatoes and more.

Skoda made it sound quite simple: “It really all comes down to putting the seed in the ground... proper fertilizing, proper watering, and proper weed control... that’s it, but if you’re short on any one of those items, your crop will be affected.”

Besides the elaborate irrigation system Skoda utilizes to keep his crops

In addition to their manifold farm operations, the couple has expanded their vegetable production to supply area food pantries.

watered “every time we don’t get an inch of rain,” he also extolled the benefits of a massive outdoor woodburning stove he’s been using for the

Gerald Skoda takes time to pose for a pic with Sullivan Renaissance founder Sandra Gerry at the United Way of Sullivan County’s recognition champagne brunch for both Gerald and his wife of more than 50 years, Rosemary.

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On a recent tour of the Skoda family homestead in Woodbourne, Gerald Skoda shows off one of his square hay balers. The Skodas own and rent more than 300 acres in and around the Woodbourne area, and utilize 100 of those acres to cultivate and harvest “a premium hay product,” according to Skoda, which he then sells on the market.

last 14 years to heat the large family home: “We’ve actually used just 400 gallons of fuel oil these last 14 years,” he pointed out.

And of the 14 to 15 cords of wood he estimates are used year-round in the large stove, which also heats the family’s swimming pool in the summer, 100 percent of it is sourced straight from his land. “One of the advantages of owning a farm is all the excess wood,” affirms Skoda. “I haven’t paid for a stick of wood in all the years we’ve had a wood stove.”

As to what motivates them, so deep into retirement, to put in so

much time and effort, only to give away the literal fruits of their considerable labors, Skoda said simply, “I guess we just feel this need to give back to this community. Why do people make contributions to charities and things like that? I think they just get a certain satisfaction out of giving.

“With us we’re just putting our knowledge to use and it’s just easy for us because we know how to do it already,” he added. “We have the space, and I think most importantly, we have the desire to just do more.”

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A HISTORY OF INVOLVEMENT Board of Education for 24 years, Skoda currently sits on committees for both Sullivan Renaissance and the Bethel Woods Museum.

No stranger to farm life, Rosemary Skoda grew up on a dairy farm just outside of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where it’s been said she could “throw a bale of hay as far as any farmhand.”

Rosemary would eventually step away from the farm, beginning a new career at Sullivan County Community College (SCCC, now SUNY Sullivan) where she served as assistant manager of the school’s bookstore for some time. Agriculture would come calling again, though, as Rosemary moved on to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Services Agency in Liberty, eventually becoming executive director.

Not to be outdone, today Mrs. Skoda serves on the SUNY Sullivan Dormitory Board, and has served on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Sullivan County since 2004;

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A large contingent of Gerald and Rosemary Skoda’s family, including son Gerald Jr., daughters Rebecca and Nicole and granddaughter Gianna, were present at the champagne brunch hosted by the United Way of Sullivan County in honor of the Skodas.

chairing the national non-profit’s Board from 2008-2010.

United Way of Sullivan County Chief Operating Officer Kaytee Warren said of her organization’s honoring of the Skodas, “This is for what they have done and continue, through their farm, to do for the community... because, besides serving on countless boards throughout

Sullivan County, they also, on their farm, grow a tremendous amount of vegetables, just for the food pantries and shelters of the area... it’s just tremendous what they do.”

Gerald and Rosemary have two daughters, Nicole and Rebecca, a son, Gerald Jr., and are proud grandparents to Gianna.

— ELI RUIZ

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s one of the founding members of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development (the Partnership), Gerald Skoda has remained active in various local organizations, including Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC), where for five years he served as chairman. Skoda’s involvement in the healthcare field continues to this day, as he currently serves on the Greater Hudson Valley Health Systems’ (GHVHS) Board of Directors.

Skoda’s continued involvement in the community isn’t limited to just the healthcare field, though, as for 17 years he has also served on the Board of Directors of the Mid-Hudson Cooperative Insurance Company; chairing the organization’s board since 2006. And, as if that weren’t enough, Skoda also finds time to serve on the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan’s Board of Directors and is president of Emerald Corporate Park in Rock Hill. Having served on the Tri-Valley Schools’

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Growing for the long haul: Planting an orchard W

hen your family has owned the same Sullivan County acreage since the time of the Civil War, you tend to take the long view.

And when you have the man considered the leading authority on organic apple orchards advising you, then you are seriously planning for something special.

And herbicides and pesticides will not be part of your farming practices.

Douglas Doetsch lives in Evanston, Illinois, where he practices law, but his roots lie in the hills above Callicoon. There, he has taken posses-

sion of a plot of ancestral land alongside Kautz Rd. to plant and cultivate 250 heirloom apple trees.

They will start bearing fruit in 5-7 years, ripening at roughly the same time, and the 18 different varieties will be blended to make hard cider.

The beverage bears the same relationship to regular cider as wine to grape juice – fermentation transforms the liquid.

“Good cider is about blending, getting the right body,” Doetsch emphasized.

Eventually, he plans to set up a cider mill on the property and market the beverage. He estimates it will be costly – about $200,000 to erect, CONTINUED ON PAGE 8R

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The North Branch Cider Mill, shuttered since the 1990s, was the last of its kind in Sullivan County. Doug Doetsch is planning to erect one in the hills above Callicoon to create hard cider.

Michael Phillips is the author of several books on organic apple growing, but he also “works the fields.” He is planting one of the 150 apple tree saplings on the Doetsch property above Callicoon.

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“Holistic� apple orchard expert Michael Phillips, left, and Doug Doetsch look over the plans for the orchard Doetsch is planting in the hills above Callicoon.

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As a lawyer, Doug Doetsch works with his brains, but with his family farming tradition, is not afraid of getting his hands dirty.

with some specialized equipment needed for the process.

Doetsch also estimates that the 250 trees can yield about 20,000 one-liter bottles.

It’s all part of a long range plan begun two years ago, when he conditioned the earth supporting clover field. The plants were plowed under to enrich the soil.

The trees, ordered 18 months ago, were specially grafted at Cummins Nursery in Ithaca.

With the aid of a crew that included cousins and friends, Doetsch planted the first 150 trees earlier this spring, with plans to put in 100 more next year. “We will also put in a variety of companion plants to attract bees (for the all-important pollinating),�

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Helping his efforts was Michael Phillips of New Hampshire, author of several books on “holistic� apple orchard growing. “Every site has its challenges,�

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Doug is the son of the late Gerald and Marge Hess Doetsch. He attended Delaware Valley Central School until third grade, when Gerald, who worked for General Motors, moved the family to Michigan.

His nursery school teacher was Janet Sausmikat, who married Gerald after Marge’s death.

Janet still lives in the homestead next to the field.

After graduating high school, Doug enrolled at Kalamazoo (MI) College and eventually earned his degree from Columbia Law School.

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erty on a hilltop. Regarding the country’s best known apple growing region, the Northwest, he noted, “Rain brings fungal diseases.”

“This site,” he continued, “has good air flow and drainage.”

Though not as well known as the Hudson Valley or Finger Lakes for apples, the county does have a tradition, even as old timers might remember a much more vibrant apple growing culture.

But the trees can thrive in our climate and soils. Doetsch points to a century-plus old apple tree near the main house that still bears fruit.

As for mills, the Cider Mill in North Branch closed in the 1990s and has stood empty since, lamented, but never replaced.

Given the trend move away from dairy farming toward specialized production, Doetsch figures to be

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Helping with the planting were, from left, Dale Hess of Callicoon, a cousin of Doetsch’s, who runs the Hess family farm; Kurt Hahn, formerly of Jeffersonville and now of Maryland; and Brian Hillriegel of Callicoon, operating the backhoe drilling attachment.

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

JULY, 2014

SHOWING OUR ROOTS

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Bridle Hill: Growing a crop of community STORY BY DAN HUST, PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRIDLE HILL FARM

A

bsolutely, Bridle Hill is a working farm, but if a charity wants it for a day, owners Dan and Elinor Young are ever-ready to say “yes!”

“If it’s a good event and something that really helps people and the community, then we’re blessed,” Dan affirms.

This past weekend, for example, the Jeffersonville horse farm hosted the local Lions Club, mounting Bridle Hill’s first-ever official horse show.

Past months have seen Community Unity of Sullivan County raising funds at the farm. Even Dan’s 30th high school reunion will be held here without a cost.

And in August, Bridle Hill will be the go-to spot for Cornell Cooperative Extension’s annual chicken BBQ.

Oh, by the way, if you want some eggs, they literally give them away.

“I don’t take a penny from any of this,” Dan explains. “I guess I feel if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it 100 percent.”

Even for what Dan and Elinor do charge, there’s always a community focus: the afterschool educational programs, the summer camp, the pony parties that bring families together.

That’s just how each of them was raised.

“I truly believe in karma,” says Dan. “You put good out there, good comes back.”

And so it has. Despite the rough economics of both agriculture and Sullivan County in general, Bridle Hill Farm has survived, staying open year-round for a variety of events, lessons, boarding services and

A picture of equine bliss: lots of sunshine and good grazing for the horses at Bridle Hill Farm.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13R

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Local kids enjoy a day on the farm during Bridle Hill Farm’s Summer Riding Educational Program Day Camp last month.

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JULY, 2014

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11R

more.

And even when there isn’t a charity on site raising funds for a good cause, visitors to their 35-acre slice of Hemmer Road paradise see that compassion in action.

“We stress learning what a horse is and caring for the horse,” Dan notes.

“Because if the horse is healthy and happy, then you’re going to be

happy.”

And they’re happy to spread the joy around.

“You don’t give to expect,” says Dan. “You give because you want to.” *** For more information on Bridle Hill Farm, visit www.bridlehillfarm.com, call 845482-3993 or stop by 190 Hemmer Road in Jeffersonville.

Want to take a ride you’ll never forget? Skip the wheels and go for the hooves at Bridle Hill Farm! A variety of scenery abounds, from the rustic architecture of the stables to the green grass and trees of the trails themselves.

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JULY, 2014

WE BUY USED GUNS! Top Cash Paid

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Silver Heights Farm 7381 Rt. 52, Cochecton Center 1/2 mile south of the ball park at Gorzynski’s Farm Organic Heirloom Flower, Culinary and Medicinal Herb, and Vegetable Plants 10 - 3 By Chance Monday thru Saturday

845-482-3608

LIMI

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T E D W A R R A N TWYA

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Bridle Hill Farm caters to all ages. The horses are gentle, happy creatures, and Dan and Elinor teach young and old alike how to enjoy spending time with them, whether riding on the trail or simply getting up close and personal.

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Fosterdale Equipment Corp. © 2014 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. New Holland is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

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3137 Rt. 17B, Cochecton, NY 12726 • 845-932-8611

JULY, 2014

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

SHOWING OUR ROOTS

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Community groups are welcome to contact Bridle Hill Farm for a memorable outing that can help increase support for their organization and create appreciation for the wonders of nature in Sullivan County. Indoors or out, Bridle Hill offers young people and adults the opportunity to understand a working farm, humanity’s relationship to the natural world, and the pure joy of interacting with the creatures found in that world. It’s part of how Dan, Elinor and crew give back!

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| 1 INSERT emocrat.com | 26 PAGES www.sc-d SECTIONS NO. 64 2 VOL. CXXIII

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JULY, 2014

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